Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Forsythe, Hon David
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 5, 2007, 2:10 pm
Author: Biographical Publishing Company
HON. DAVID FORSYTHE, who is one of the largest land owners and cattle-buyers
in Florence Township, was born in Ballynure, County Antrim, Ireland, April 25,
1850, a son of Andrew and Jane (Ballentyne) Forsythe. He was one of eleven
children, all but four of whom still survive, viz.: James, who is internal
revenue collector at Monroe, La.; Jane, widow of Samuel Finley, of Wilmington,
Ill.; Mary, widow of Frederick Alex, of Lake Forest, Ill.; Andrew; Robert H.,
a farmer of Onarga, Ill.; Samuel, of Peoria; and David. The grandfather, John
Forsythe, was a lifelong farmer of Ireland. Of him it is said that "his
religious orthodox was equaled only by the intense devotion he bore to the
interests and fortunes of his country." He had a brother, Andrew, Sr., a
wheelwright in County Antrim, and a man of broad education, at the same time
intensely loyal to his country and his church (the Presbyterian). He believed
that the people of a country have a natural right to its soil, its air, its
water; to make its laws; to till its soil; and to receive such benefit as
accrues therefrom. For his intense devotion to the Irish cause, the animosity
of the government pursued him and all belonging to him. On every pretext his
property was injured, his peace was disturbed and his family harassed. His
nephew and namesake grew up with the same convictions and was even more frank
in their expression. He was the tenant of a brutal landlord, who first
subjected him to every species of hardship and then evicted him by chopping
down the rafters of the house during his absence, which, falling into the
fireplace, burned the house to the ground. In poverty and suffering he was
compelled to seek another home for his family. It was in this way that he was
led to come to America, the land of the free. Hither his eldest son, John, had
preceded him some years. This son later became one of the most prominent
Democrats in Illinois and was chairman of the state central committee. He was
a co-laborer with Abraham Lincoln in the office of secretary of state in
Springfield, and after Lincoln's election as president he tendered his former
associate an appointment as United States consul to Belfast, but the offer was
declined. Later he organized a company to serve in the Civil war, but on
account of illness at home he resigned his commission and took his family to
Florida. In the early history of Chicago he was one of the foremost figures,
particularly among the Irish residents of the city. His death occurred there
in 1885.
When fifty-one years of age Andrew Forsythe, in 1849, crossed the ocean,
accompanied by his family. He came west via the great lakes, but while sailing
up the St. Lawrence River, the engine of the boat exploded and one of his
daughters was killed. Her body was taken to Fond du Lac, Wis., and there
buried. The sad accident disheartened the others. After reaching Chicago they
proceeded to Sparta, Ill., and at Christmas-time took a vessel at New Orleans
for their native country. In 1861 they again came to the United States,
arriving in Will County in September and settling on section 3, Florence
Township, which land was owned by Hon. John Forsythe, of Chicago. A few months
later the father went to Chicago, where he remained until May, 1863. He then
returned to Florence Township, and here spent the remainder of his days, dying
June 20, 1880. It has been said of him that he preserved to his death the
scrupulous integrity which he had inherited with his Presbyterian creed, and
that practical Irish patriotism which was its twin legacy. When the last
tribute of respect was paid to his memory, people of all denominations
gathered to attend his funeral, and the capacity of the largest church in the
place was taxed to its utmost to accommodate his friends. His wife was a
daughter of John Ballentyne, a farmer and tanner; her grandfather was one of
the conspicuous figures in the revolutionary periods of his country, and at
onetime, when his life was in the greatest danger, he was conveyed out of the
country in a barrel.
The education of our subject was completed in an academy in Chicago. In 1866
he returned to the Will County farm, of which he took complete charge two
years later. In 1876 he married Bessie, daughter of James and Rebecca
(Freeburn) Hamilton, natives of Londonderry, Ireland. The family crossed the
ocean and settled in Nithburg, Upper Canada, where she was born. In 1857 they
located in Jackson Township, this county. Some three years afterward they
removed to Florence Township, where Mr. Hamilton died in 1886. His widow now
makes her home with a daughter in Chicago.
After his marriage Mr. Forsythe purchased the live stock and appurtenances of
the homestead, which he farmed as a renter. In 1877 he bought one-half of
section 4, a part of which property his father had added to the homestead. On
this place he has since resided. During the intervening years he has added to
his original purchase until he now has nine hundred and sixty acres of land in
one body, some of this being as good land as can be found in the county. Since
1867 he has been a large cattle buyer and feeder, and has shipped to the
Chicago markets. It is almost exclusively through his livestock interests that
he has gained his success in life.
In 1871 Mr. Forsythe was elected highway commissioner and was chosen treasurer
of the board. The year following the bank in Wilmington failed and he was a
loser to the extent of $1,100. After filling various minor offices, in 1880
he was elected supervisor of the town of Florence. His service was so
acceptable to the people that he was twice re-elected to the office, the last
time having no opposition. He refused to serve a fourth term. In 1872 he was
nominated for the legislature, but refused to accept the nomination,
withdrawing in favor of William Mooney, who was elected. In 1890 he was again
nominated for the legislature and was elected by a handsome majority. During
his term as a member of the thirty-seventh and thirty-eighth general
assemblies he worked on the following committees: live-stock and dairying, of
which he was chairman; corporations, canal-river improvements and commerce,
mines and mining, agriculture, sanitary affairs, retrenchment and
miscellaneous subjects. He was one of the famous one hundred and one who
elected Senator John M. Palmer to the United States senate. He was the
champion of the anti-truck bill and was largely instrumental in securing its
passage. He also championed a bill to lower the rate of interest from eight to
six per cent, but accepted a compromise at seven per cent.
Fraternally Mr. Forsythe is a member of Wilmington Lodge No. 208, A. F. & A.
M., and is a Scottish Rite Mason. He and his wife are identified with the
Presbyterian Church. They have an only son, John, who is now attending the
high school at Wilmington.
Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900
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